The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-09-19
MEMORIAL DAY.
Closing Exercises of the Constitu-
tion's Hundredth Birthday.
Famous Independence Square the
Scene of Imposing Ceremony.

Scene of Imposing Ceremony.
Grafton by Judge Miller and Speech
by the President.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Sept 1.-THE day
dawned clear and cool in PHILADELPHIA. At
o'clock the President had a public recep-
tion at the room of the commissioners of pub
lie buildings. No tickets were required, and
vast throng of people fiocked to see the
Chief Magistrate of the nation. The recep-
tion closed at half past ten, when the Presi-
dent retired to prepare for the ceremonies in
Independence Square.
These ceremonies celebrated the compile
tion of the work of the constitutional con-
vention hundred years ago today The
opening prayer was offered by Bishop Pot
ter, Of New York. Hon. John A. Kasson,
president Of the Constitutional Centennial
Commission, welcomed the President, the
judges of the supreme courtand the legisla-
tors of Congress, representing the three de-
partments of the national government. the
governors of States and the representatives
of foreign governments, to the celebration of
the peace consummation of the first constitu-
tional century of the United States. Presi-
dent Cleveland spoke in reply as follows:
The Presidents Reply.
l deem it very great honor and pleasure
to participate in these impressive exercises.
Every American citizen should on this GEN.
tennial day rejoice in his citizenship. He
will not find the cause of his rejoicing in the
antiquity of his country-for among the ma
tions of the earth his stands with the young
est He will not find it in the glitter and
pomp that bedeck monarch and dazzle alb
ject and servile subjects, for in his country
the people themselves are rulers he will
not find it in the story of bloody foreign con-
quests, for his government has been content
to care for its own domain and people, He
should rejoice because the work cf framing
our constitution was completed 1C0 years ago
today, and also because, when completed, it
established a free government He should
rejoice because this constitution and govern
ment have survived so long, and also be-
cause they. have survived with so many bless
lngs and have demonstrated so fully the
strength and value of popular rule. He
should rejoice in the wondrCus growth and
achievements of the past 1co years. and also
In the glorious promise of the constitution
through centuries to come. We shall fail to
be duly thankful for all that was done for
us 100 years ago unless we realize the diff
culties OF the work then in hand, and the
dangers avoided in the task of forming "a
more perfect union" between disjointed and
inharmonious states, with interests and opin-
ions radically diverse and stubbornly
maintained. tba The perplexlties of
labor Of preparing our constitution are ap-
parent in these earnest words of one of the
most illuStrious of its members: "The small
progress we have made after four or five
weeks OF close attendance and continued rea-
sonings with each other, our different senti-
ments on almost every question-several of
the last producing as many nays as yeas-is,
methinks, melancholy proof of the imper-
lection of the human understanding. We,
indeed, seem to feel our own want of politi-
about in search of it. We have gone back
to ancient history for models of gov
ernment. and examined the different
forms. Of those republics. which, having
been formed with the seeds of their own
q dissolution, now no longer exist. In this
in the dark to find political truth and scarce
able to distinguish it when presented to us,
how has 1t happened, sir, that we have not
heretofore once thought of humbly applying
to the Father Of Light to illuminate our un-
posing to his fellows that the aid and bless
ing Of God should be invoked in their ex-
tremity, declared 81 have lived, sir, a long
time, and the louger live the more convinc-
ing proofs see of the truth that God gov
cannot fall to theground without his notice,
IS 1t probable that an empire can rise with
Jut nis aid p We navc boon assured sir in
the sacred writings that Except the Lord
it." | firmly believe this, and i also be-
lieve that, without his concurring aid, we
shall succeed in this politi al building no
better than the builders of Babel. We shall
be divided by our little partial, local inter-
ests; our projects will be c0nfoundcd, and
we ourselves shall become a reproach and
byword down to future ages; and, what is
worse, mankind may hereafter, from this
unfortunate instance, despair of establish
ing governments by human wisdom, and
leave It to chance, war and conquest"
In the face OF all discouragements, the
fathers of the republic labored on for four
long weary months, in alternate hope and
lear, but always with rugged resolve, never
faltering in sturdy endeavor sanctifed by
a prophetic sense of the value to posterity of
faith in the principles which make the
Of government by the people.
At last their task was DONE 1t is related
that upon the back of the chair occupied by
Washington as the president of the conven-
tion, a sun was printed, and that as the dele
tlOn. one of them said: 81 have often and
often in the course of the session and in the
solicitude of my hopes and fears as to its
issue, looked at that behind the President
without being able to tell whether it was
rising or setting. But now at length know
that It is rising and not setting sun" We
stand to-day on the spot where this rising
sun emerged from political night and dark
ness; and in its own bright meridian light
we mark its glorious way Clouds have
some times obscured its rays, and
God has held it in its course, and
through its life giving warmth has performed
his latest miracle in the creation of this
wonderous land and people. As we look
down the past century to the origin of our
its triumphs, as we realize how completely
the principles upon which it is based have
met every national peril and every national
need, how deyoutly should we confess, with
FRANKLIN: "God governs in the affairs of
men,, and how solemn should be the refiec-
ton that to our hands is committed this ark
OF the peoples covenant, and thatlours is the
duty to shield it from impious hands, We
receive 1t sealed with the tests of century.
IL has been found sufficient in the past, and
IN all the future years it will be found suffi-
clent, If the American people are true to
their sacred trust Another centennial day
VIII come, and millions yet unborn will in
qulre concerning our stewardship and the
safety to their constitution. God grant that
they may find it unimpaired; and as we re-
]oice In the patriotism and devotion of those
VINO lived 100 years ago, so may others who
follow us rejoice In our fidelity and in our
]eolaus love for constitutional liberty
Judge MiIIer's Grafton.
The memorial Grafton delivered by Mr..
Justice Miller, the senior member of the
United State Supreme Court was an able
document, treating of the constitution and
its functions. Below are some of the princi-
pal parts of the address:
1t is little over IL years since the great GEN.
tennlal anniversary of the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence was cele
brated In this city, where the Congress sat
which proclaimed it. The grand Industrial
exhibition, the august ceremonies of the
day, and all the incidents of the commemora-
tiOn in no respect fell below what was de-
manded by the Importance of the occasion.
MAY it be long before the people of the
United States shall cease to take a deep and
peryading interest in the Fourth of JULY as
the birthday of our national life, or the
event which then occurred shall be subordin-
ated to any other of the national history.
We are met here to commemorate another
event in our progress, in many respects in
ferior to none in Importance ia our own
history, or in the history OF the world 1t is
the formation of the constitution of the
United States, which, ON this day, 1CO wears
ago, was adopted by the convention which
represented the people of the United States.
and which was then signed by the delegates
who framed 1t, and published as the final re-